Power-driven can opener



y 4, 1954 E. WILD 2,677,175

POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER I Filed Sept. 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VE N TOR EON/1R0 W/L 0 ATT'X y 4, 1954 E. WILD 2,677,175

POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/VENTOR EDWIRO W/Lp ATT'X May 4, 1954 E. mu:

POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER ATT'Y.

May 4, 1954 E. WILD POWER-DRIVEN cm OPENER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 17, 1952 Iii p Q w w 0 1 Qw I I I I I4 I I IIIII i g 4 i \m WN W 4 W I N0 0 m I I I w $1. I f h mfi n m9 7 m May 4, 1954 E. WILD 2,677,175

POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER Filed Sept 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 4, 1954 POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER Edward Wild, West Hartford, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to rated, Hartford, 001111.,

necticut H. H. Jaeger, Incorpoa corporation of Con- Application September 1'7, 1952, Serial No. 309,964

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a can opener and, more specifically, to improvements in can openers of the type adapted for heavy duty, automatic operation.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a sturdy and durable motor driven can opener which is particularly adapted for heavy duty use in opening cans of various sizes and which is capable of high speed operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the aforementioned type having means for engaging and holding a can while the same is being opened thereby relieving the operator of the tasks of positioning the can for opening and of holding the can while it is being opened. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opening machine of the aforedescribed type which eliminates all but a few simple manual operations. 7 7

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings which, by way of preferred example only, illustrate a can opener constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the can opener with parts shown in vertical section to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken through the base of the machine as indicated by 3 the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken longitudinally of the base as indicated by the line PM of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical'cross sectional views taken through the base as indicated by the lines 5-5 and 6-B of Fig. 3 to illustrate details of the cam engaging and supporting mechanism;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary views taken as indicated by the lines 1-1 and 8-8 of Fig. 2 to show details of the cutter mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view taken as indicated by line 9-2 of Fig. 8 to show details of the cutter elevating mechanism.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the can opener or can opening machine of the present invention may be described generally as comprising a base it having means for receiving and positioning a can to be opened and which supports in an eleone specific embodiment of an anti-friction bearing vated position a drive unit l2 including an electric motor M adapted to drive a cutter unit M which can be lowered and raised into and out of engagement with the top portion of the can by cutter elevating mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral [6.

Preferably, the base in is formed as a relatively wide heavy casting which will support the other elements of the machine and withstand operational vibration and movements without being secured toother support means. Although the machine can be constructed in any size desired, it is contemplated that a readily portable machine which can be placed upon a table or work bench will suit most needs, because, as will be shown hereinafter, such a machine can be used to remove the tops of cans of a wide variety of sizes.

It is also preferred that cover members 18 and 28 be provided to enclose the operating components'of the machine as a safeguard for the operator. The cover member I8 encloses the drive unit 12 and the major portion of the cutter unit Hi and its elevating mechanism iii. A vertical slot 22 is provided in the front face of the cover It! through which extend the can engaging elements of the cutter unit and a vertical slot 24 is provided in the right hand face of the cover l8 through which extends the drive shaft of the elevating mechanism. The cover member 20 encloses the base l0 forwardly of the cover member 18.

The can engaging and positioning mechanism Attention is now directed to Figs. 3-6 which show in detail the construction of the base In and the can engaging and positioning mechanism. It will be noted that the base casting H] has an open bottom, a front wall 26 and a rear wall 28. A transverse wall 30 is provided rearwardly of the midpoint between the front and rear walls and a top wall 32 joins the said transverse wall and the rear wall'zt. The transverse wall 30 extends downwardly approximately half way to the bottom of the casting where it is joined to a false bottom 34 which extends to the front wall 26. As more particularly shown in Fig. 4, the aforementioned walls are enclosed by a skirt 36 and the cover member 20 is adapted to extend from the front wall 26 to the transverse wall 36 above and in spaced relation to the false bottom 34.

In accordance with the present invention, the can engaging and positioning means include a rotatable circular table 38 which is supported by unit All upon a carriage 2; The carriage is slidably supported within the base it adjacent and above the false bottom 34 and the carriage has an annular boss 44 projecting through a suitable slot 46 in the cover member 2 and receiving the bearing unit 40. The means slidably supporting the carriage comprise a pair of horizontally disposed cylindrical ways 48, 48 which extend longitudinally of the base I and are secured in suitable bosses adjacent the front wall and the transverse wall thereof. Accordingly, the carriage can be moved between the front wall and transverse wall of the base.

The means effecting rearward movement of the carriage comprises a spring 50 which extends longitudinally of the base [8 through a suitable aperture 52 in the transverse wall 30. The spring is connected at one end to the front of the carriage and at the other end to the rear wall 28 of the base. Preferably, an adjustable connecting pin 54 is utilized to connect the spring and rear wall so that the tension of the spring can be adjusted. As will be apparent from the drawings, the spring 511 urges the carriage 42 and table 38 rearwardly of the base in what may be referred to as feeding movement since it is by such movement that a can placed upon the table will be advanced toward operative position relative to the cutter unit I4.

A toggle mechanism is employed for moving the carriage forwardly of the base against the force of the spring 50 to a retracted position as shown in Fig. 3. The said toggle mechanism includes an operating lever 56 pivotally secured as at 58 to the underside of the false bottom 34. The forward end portion of the lever 56 projects through a suitable aperture 59 in the front wall 26 and provides a handle 62 positioned for convenient operation by an attendant. The rear end of the lever is pivotally connected to one end of a link 64 which is pivotally connected at its other end to the inner ends of toggle linkages 6B and 68. The outer end of linkage B6 is pivotally secured to the carriage 42 and the outer end of linkage 68 is pivotally secured to the base I0 adjacent the rear wall thereof.

As shown in the full line position of Fig. 3, the

operating lever engages the right hand end of the slot 65 so that the pivot between toggle linkages 65 and 68 is disposed slightly to the left of the center line of the spring 50 so that the table 38 and carriage 42 are held in the full line or retracted position. When the operating lever 56 is shifted by an attendant toward th broken line position, the toggle linkages are shifted into angular relation to the right of the spring center line thereby permitting the spring 50 to draw the table and carriage rearwardly in the feeding movement.

It will be readily understood that if the attendant places a can upon the table 38, the can will be carried. rearwardly by the table during the aforedescribed feeding movement. Such movement of the can is limited by stop means comprising a roller mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on the end of a forwardly extending arm ?2 which is secured at its other end to a suitable boss 14 on the top wall 32 of the base. When the can engages the stop roller 10, its rearward edge Will be located below the cutter mechanism [4 so that the cutter elements can be brought into engagement with the can to effect removal of the top thereof.

In further accord with the invention, a pair of arms l6, it are pivotally mounted on posts 11, T! at opposite sides of the bas In and arranged to swing inwardly toward engagement with the can during feeding movement of the table. The swinging end of each arm 76 carries a roller 18 rotatable about a vertical axis and engageable with the sides of the can. The means for pivoting the arms l6, 16 comprise a pair of actuating arms 80, 80 each of which is connected at one end to one of the posts 1! and by a lost motion connection to the end of one arm 18. The other end of each arm 80 mounts, on a vertical axis, a roller or cam follower 82 which rides within one of a pair of generally transverse slots 84, 84 located on opposite sides of the carriage 42.

It will be understood from Fig. 3 that as the carriage shifts rearwardly in the feeding movement, the actuating arms 80, 80 will be pivoted as the cam followers 82, 82 ride within the slots 84. 84. By means of the lost motion connection, the actuating arms 80, 80 cause the arms 16, 16 to swing inwardly so that the rollers 18, 73 carried thereby will engage a can supported on the table 38. Since the arms 16, i6 are symmetrically located on opposite sides of the base I9, when they engage a, can placed on the table 38 they will center the can relative to the stop roller 10. Mor specifically, the arms 76, 16 will shift the can on the table to a position wherein the center of the can lies on the extended centerline of the stop arm 72 and the rollers 18, 18 will be equidistant from the stop roller 10. The aforedescribed can positioning arms 16, 16 will operate in the same manner to position cans of various sizes with respect to the stop means.

The positioning arms 16, i6 and their actuating arms 88, 88 also serve to locate the can with respect to the axis of rotation of the table. When the arms 75, 76 engage the can, the carriage is moving rearwardly. Rearward movement of the carriage is permitted to continue until the slack is taken up in the lost motion connection between the arms 16, 16 and 80, 80. When the slack is taken up, further movement of the carriage is prevented because the arms 80, 80 can no longer pivot and movement of the cam followers 82, 82 within the slots 84, 84 can not take place. Accordingly, sliding movement of the carriage 42 ceases with the axis of rotation of the platform 38 located in approximate coincidence with the center line of the can. Locating the can as described with respect to the axis of rotation of the table is a distinct operational advantage, since, as will be shown later, the can, during removal of the top, is rotated about its longitudinal axis and rotation of the supporting table 38 facilitates such movement-of the can.

The arms 16, '16, as described, resiliently engage the can so that irregularities in the contour of the can may be accommodated as the can is turned in the top removal operation. To assure engagement of the arms with the sides of the can during such .turning movement, a pair of springs 90, 98 are provided each of which is secured at one end to an arm 76 and at the other end to a lug 92 formed on the bearing boss 44. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, the springs 90, 90 urge the arms 15, 16 toward the can to assure engagement despite any slack in the lost motion connections.

The cutter unit and drive and the elevating mechanism Having described the can engaging and positioning apparatus, attention is now directed to Figs. 1, 2 and 7-9 for a more complete understanding of the components utilized to cut and remove the top of a can.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the drive unit I2, including the motor M, is mounted upon a platform I00 supported in an elevated position on a plurality (3 shown) of posts I02 extending vertically from the top wall 32 of the base I0. Included in the cutter drive mechanism is a conventional transmission unit I04 which interconnects the motor shaft and a vertically disposed driven shaft I06 (Fig. '7). By means of a drive coupling I01 journaled in the platform I00, the driven shaft I06 turns the cutter drive shaft I08. The cutter drive shaft is provided with an elongated keyway H0 by means of which a spiral drive gear H2 is permitted to move vertically with respect to the drive shaft while being fixed for rotation therewith. Accordingly, the cutter unit I4 can be driven in any adjusted vertical position along the cutter drive shaft I08. However, the aforedescribed drive is operative only when a micro-switch I I4 (Figs. 2 and 9) is closed,

the said micro-switch being in the power circuit to the motor M. As will be shown hereinafter, the micro-switch is closed by the elevating mechanism after the cutter elements have operatively engaged a can.

The elevating mechanism which is utilized to adjust the vertical position of the cutter unit I4 is best shown in Figs. '1, 8 and 9. The said mechanism includes an operating or drive shaft I which is journaled in a bracket I22 depending from the platform I00, the shaft being horizontally disposed and projecting through the slot 24 in the side of the cover member I8. An operating handle I24 is fixed to the projecting end of said shaft so as to be readily accessible to an attendant. As will be apparent, turning of the handle I24 causes rotation of the shaft I20. When the handle is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, a gear I26, freely rotatable on the shaft I20, is engaged by clutch means I28 (Fig. 9) to turn the shaft I20. A retaining plate I30 locates the gear I26 on the shaft I20 adjacent the outer face of the bracket I22 and in engagement with a rack I32 movable vertically with the cutter unit the rack I32 is secured as by cap screws I34, I34 to a casting I36 which supports the cutter unit and which is vertically slidably mounted on the front, left-hand post I02. As will be understood 7 8, counterclockwise turning from Figs. 1 and movement of the handle I24 and the gear I26 will shift the rack I32 and thus the casting I36 and cutter unit I4 downwardly.

Downward movement of ited by stop means engaging a the previously described table 38. The preferred stop means comprises a cam follower or roller I38 which is rotatably fixed on a horizontal axis to engage the top rim of a can positioned on the table 38. The roller is supported on'an appendage I40 formed on a part of the cutter housing, so that when the roller engages the can, further downward movement of the cutter unit is thereby prevented. As will be shown later, at the limit of downward movement, the cutter elements are positioned for cutting engagement with the top of the can.

When downward movement of the cutter unit has been stopped, further turning of the handle effects disengagement of the clutch means I28 with the handle member I20 of the clutch riding up the inclined face I3I of the gear member I33 of the clutch. As the clutch means I28 is disengaged thereby disengaging the drive connection to the gear I26, the shaft I20 is drawn out- I4. More specifically,

the cutter unit is limcan supported on rack I60 has a longitudinal top of wardly to the broken line position shown in Fig. 9 against the force of a coil spring I42. The spring I42 is disposed between a retainer plate I43 secured to the inner face of bracket I22 and an anti-friction bearing unit I44 supported adjacent the inner end of the shaft I20 on a coupling member I46 fixed to the said shaft. The said inner end of the shaft engages a spring biased switch actuating pin I48 included in the microswitoh II4 which is supported on bracket means I 50 below the platform I00. When the shaft I20 is in normal position, i. e., when the clutch means I28 is engaged, the actuating pin I48 is held in open position and the drive motor M is not energized. When the shaft I20 is drawn outwardly, during disengagement of clutch means I28, the actuating pin I48 is biased outwardly to closed position thereby energizing the drive motor.

It will be noted in Fig. 9 that the coupling member I46 has a drive lug I52 engageable with a lug I54 defined on the hub of a gear I56 which is freely rotatable about the shaft I20. However, when the shaft I20 is withdrawn as described, the lugs I52 and I54 interengage so that the gear I56 will be driven and rotated by further counterclockwise rotation of the operating handle. Engagement and drive of gear I50 occurs when the clutch drive connection to gear I26 is disengaged and at the time the microswitch. II4 energizes the drive motor M.

The gear I56 is located on shaft I20 by retainer plate I43 adjacent the inner face of the bracket I22 so as to engage the teeth I56 along one edge of a vertically disposed rack I60. The slot I62 (Fig. 1) wherein rides a pin I64 carried by the casting I36 so as to be vertically movable with the cutter unit I4. The rack I is resiliently secured to the platform I00 as by spring means (not shown), but when the pin I64 engages the bottom of the slot I62, as when the cutter unit I4 is lowered, the rack I60 is shifted downwardly with the cutter unit. Downward movement of the rack I60 causes the gear I56 to be freely turned on the shaft I20, since, as explained above, such downward movement of the cutterunit and rack occurs before the gear i56 is drivingly interconnected to the shaft 120. Therefore, the pin I64 will be adjacent the bottom of the slot I62 when the cutter unit engages the a can and when the gear I50 is drivingly connected to the shaft I20.

Further counterclockwise rotation of the handle I24 cannot cause gear I26 to drive rack I32 downwardly because the can has been engaged and the clutch unit I23 will slip. However, such further rotation of the handle will cause gear I56 to drive rack I60 downwardly because gear I56 is now drivingly connected to the shaft I20.

Gear teeth I86 are provided on the longitudinal edge of rack I60 opposite the teeth I58 and engage teeth I08 on a compound gear I10 (Figs. 2 and 7) mounted on stub shaft I12 which is horizontally supported by bracket I36. The gear I10 also has a set of bevel teeth I14 engaging bevel gear teeth I16 formed on one operating member of the cutter unit I4 which will now be described in detail.

As previously mentioned, the cutter unit I4 is supported by the bracket I36 for vertical movements therewith. A lower casting I18 and an upper casting I journal the operating elements of the cutter unit. The lower casting I18 is secured to bracket I36 as by screws I82, I02 (Fig. 1) and is provided with an annular lateral exd tension I84 (Fig. 7) which carries the cutter drive gear H2 on cutter drive shaft we so that as the cutter unit i4 is shifted vertically with the bracket i353, the cutter drive gear will also be shifted along the said drive shaft. The upper member N30 is resiliently secured to the lower member H8 by a plurality of screws E36 which are countersunk in the under side of the member H8 and threaded upwardly into the member :80. For resiliency, a spring I58 embraces each screw I85 abutting the head thereof and the bottom of the countersink. The purpose of the resilient interconnection between the members I18 and I88 will be explained hereinafter.

Each of the members I18 and i8 3 have central bores which are parallel to each other and which are inclined rearwardly. The bore in the upper casting or housing I36 accommodates a bushing I99 having a generally longitudinal bore 92 which angularly related to the longitudinal axis of the bushing. The bushing E99 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the member 288 and the bevel gear teeth i'E-t, which as previously explained are engaged by the bevel teeth I'M on gear 170, are formed on the said extension of the bushing. The bore 92 in the bushing I95) accommodates a stub shaft or spindle I94 which extends beyond the ends of the bushing E90 and the housing I66. A spiral gear IQG is fixed to the extending upper end of the shaft 594 and a cutte' element its having a beveled circular cutting edge 20B is secured to the extending lower end of the said shaft.

The bore in the lower casting or housing HS accommodates a bushing 2E2 which receives a stub shaft or spindle 284 which extends beyond the ends of the bushing 292 and the housing. A spiral gear 286 is fixed to the upper extending end of the shaft 2% and is engaged by the spiral drive gear H2 and also engages and drives the spiral gear 556 fixed to the cutter shaft At the lower extending end of shaft 294 a serrated wheel 22% is fixed so that the serrated periphery thereof will engage and turn a can placed upon the table 38 as shown in Fig. 8. The serrations engage the top portions of the side of the can to rotate the same when the shaft 234 is driven by the cutter drive gear. The wheel 251.8 is also provided with a tapered roller portion 2H which rolls along the side of the can during the cutting operation which will now be described.

When the cutter unit 14 has been lowered by the elevating mechanism 55 to effect engagement between the stop roller !33 and the top edge of a can placed upon the table 38, further counterclockwise movement of the operating handle 25 will effect, in the manner described, a driving connection between operating shaft #20 and gear 'I he gear l 56 will lower rack I69 which drives compound gear I'm. The bevel teeth on gear I I8 engage the bevel teeth 15 on bushing S8 to rotate the said bushing in the casting lSfi. When the said bushing has been rotated 180 from the 1)( on shown in Fig. the cutting element 98 N111 nave been brought into the broken line position shown in Fig. 8 so as to pierce the top of the can. As previously explained, when the operating handle I24 is given the aforementioned further movement, the drive motor M is energized the micro-switch H4 and spiral drive gear l 52 is rotated. Drive gear IIZ rotates spiral gear 2&6 nd thus stub shaft 294 and the serrated wheel to turn the can. Spiral gear 265 drives spiral r 5225 and thus rotates stub shaft I94 and the The cutting element and utting element I98.

serrated wheel will continue to turn the can and in the process, the top of the can is severed from the body thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the top is severed closely adjacent the side of the can. It is expected that the upper edge or bead of many cans will vary in thickness and the thicker portions thereof might become wedged between the cutting element and serrated wheel. However, the previously described resilient interconnection between the lower and upper casting or housing members I18 and E permit separation of the cutting element and serrated wheel so that the anticipated thicker portions of the upper edge of the can will pass therethrough without disrupting the cutting operation.

It is also to be expected that the upper edge of the can will be deflected radially outwardly during the cutting operation so that the severed top might fall into the can and be difiicult to retrieve. However, the present construction includes a magnet 2E2 carried on the end of an arm 214 above the top of the can and thus arranged to secure or pick up the severed top of the can. The magnet support arm 2 I4 is fixed to the upper casting or housing member I86 so as to be movable with the cutter unit l4.

General operation A brief description of the over all operation of the can opening machine will probably make for better and more complete understanding of the invention.

Before attempting to sever the top from a can, an attendant should assure himself that the cutter unit I 3 is in elevated position and that the operating handle 62 for the can engaging and positioning mechanism is in loading position i. e., against the right hand end of the slot $9 in the front wall of the base. Then the can to be opened is placed in an upright position on the table 38 and the operating handle shifted toward the left within the slot 60.

Shifting of the operating lever displaces the toogle linkages 56 and 68 so that the feed spring 513 will pull the carriage 42 and table 38 rearwardly. The can engaging arms 15, 75 are swung inwardly by such movement of the carriage to engage and position the can relative to the stop 10 for engagement by the cutter unit it. The rotatable table 38 and carriage &2 will assume a position such that the axis of rotation of the table is aligned generally with the central longitudinal axis of the can.

Then the attendant lowers the cutter unit onto the can by rotating the operating handle 42d of the elevating mechanism in a counterclockwise direction as viewed by Fig. 1. When the stop roller or cam follower its engages the top of the can, additional downward movement of the cutter unit I4 is prevented. However, the attendant continues counterclockwise rotation of the operating handle to bring the cutter element 598 into operative relation with the can and to energize the cutter drive motor M. The top of the can is severed in the manner described above as the can is rotated by the cutter drive mechanism. The table 38 will rotate with the can on its antifriction bearing unit 40.

When the top of the can has been completely severed, the attendant rotates the operating handle in the clockwise direction to effect disengagement of the cutter unit from the can. Initia] clockwise rotation will effect a drive through gear. N35 to elevate rack I 60 which causes bushing I 90 to rotate toward the position shown in Fig. 8.

When the said bushing has been rotated to the position shown, the clutch means I28 will engage thereby shifting the operating shaft I28 inwardly to open the micro-switch H4 and de-energize the drive motor M. Continued clockwise rotation of handle I 24 efiects a drive to rack I32 through gear 126 thus elevating the cutter unit I4. As the cutter unit is lifted, the magnet 2l2 lifts the top of the can.

Then the attendant shifts the operating lever for the can engaging mechanism to the right to disengage the can and to move the table forwardly of the base to the retracted or loading position. Upon removal of the severed lid from the magnet, the can opening machine is again ready for operation.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the machine requires little effort on the part of even the most unskilled attendant for efiicient operation at high speeds and for heavy duty usage on cans which may vary broadly as to size.

It should also be understood that the illustrated and described embodiment is exemplary, although preferred, and that elements of structure can be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a can opening machine of the type having a base and a cutter unit including a cutting element supported above the base for engagement with a can, improvements in can positioning means comprising, a carriage supported by the base and movable therealong, means on said carriage for receiving a can in an upright position, means for moving said carriage between a loading position for receiving a can and an operating position wherein the cutting m t is a eable with the can, can positioning arms adapted to engage the side of the can, and motion transmitting means for swinging said arms toward engagement with the can in response to movement of said carriage from loading position to operating position.

2. In a can opening machine of the type having a base and a cutter unit including a cutting element supported above the base for engagement with a can, improvements in can positioning means comprising, a carriage supported by the base and movable therealong, can support means rotatably mounted on said carriage and adapted to receive a can in an upright position, means for moving said carriage between a loading position and .an operating position wherein the cutting element is engageable with the can, can positionin arms pivotally supported on the base and adapted to engage the side of the can, and motion transmitting means for swinging said arms into engagement with the can in response to movement of said carriage from loading position to operative position.

3. In a can opening machine of the type having a base and a cutter unit including a cutting element supported above the base for engagement with a can, improvements in can positioning means comprising, a carriage supported by the base and movable therealong, means for positioning said carriage in aloading position to receive a can in upright position, means for moving said carriage toward the cutter unit, stop means engageable with the can when the top thereof is engageable by the cutting element, can positioning arms adapted to engage the side of the can, and motion transmitting means for swinging said arms toward engagement with the can in respose to movement of said carriage toward the cutter unit.

4. In a can opening machine of the type having a base and a cutter unit including a cutting element supported above the base for engagement with a can, improvements in can positioning means, comprising, a carriage supported by the base and movable therealong, can support means rotatably mounted on said carriage and adapted to receive a can in an upright position, means for moving said carriage toward the cutter unit, stop means engageable with the side of the can when the top thereof is disposed for engagement by the cutting element, can positioning arms pivotally supported on the base and adapted to engage the side of the can in circumferentially spaced relation to said stop means whereby the longitudinal center line of the can will be aligned generally with the axis of rotation of said can support means, and motion transmitting means for swinging said arms into engagement with the can in response to movement of said carriage toward the cutter unit.

5. In a can opening machine of the type having a base and a cutter unit including a cutting element supported above the base for engagement with a can, improvements in can positioning means comprising, a carriage supported by the base and movable therealong, means urging said carriage toward the cutter unit, toggle means for retracting said carriage and retaining the same in a loading position, can support means rotatably mounted on said carriage and adapted to re ceive a can in upright position, stop means engageable with the side of the can when the top thereof is disposed for engagement by the cutting element, can positioning arms pivotally mounted on the base and adapted to engage the side of the can in equally circumferentially spaced relation to said stop means whereby the longitudinal center line of the can will be aligned generally with the axis of rotation of said can support means, and motion transmitting means engaging said carriage and said arms arranged to swing said arms into engagement with the can in response to movement of said carriage toward the cutter unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,892,582 McCollom Dec. 27, 1932 2,011,170 Ames Aug. 13, 1935 2,441,322 Jager May 11, 1948 2,523,810 Brown Sept. 26, 1950 2,532,898 Drugman Dec. 5, 1950 2,547,258 Craig Apr. 3, 1951 2,579,189 Jenson Dec. 18, 1951 2,583,034 Wibling Jan. 22, 1952 

